COST OF PRODUCING APPLES IN HOOD RIVER VALLEY. 35 



lay for the average Hood Kiver grower. On the 54 farms the aver- 

 age spraying-labor cost is $8.83 per acre, or $0.0398 per box. The 

 cost of materials for spraying is $8.69 per acre, or $0.0391 per box, 

 a total cost for labor and material of $0.0789 per box. The use of the 

 spray rig is a separate expense included under equipment charges. 

 Forty -three growers own their own power-spray outfits, while 11 hire 

 their spraying done, A number of steam spray outfits are still in 

 use in the valley, but these are being replaced by gasoline power 

 sprayers. The average size spray tank holds about 150 gallons, the 

 size varying from 100 to 250 gallons. The pressure maintained in 

 spraying varies from 150 to 225 pounds. 



In spraying two or three men are commonly employed. When 

 three men are used, which is the practice of 57 per cent of the grow- 

 ers, one man drives the team and tends the engine, while the other 

 two handle the lines of hose. In nearly all cases two lines of hose 

 about 50 feet long are used. A spray rod is attached to each hose. 

 Where two men are used, as on practically 40 per cent of the farms, 

 both hold spray rods. 



The average length of spray rod is 10 feet, although a few 12-foot 

 rods are used in the older orchards. The rods are usually bamboo 

 over aluminum tubing. Spray towers are not used except in very 

 few instances, the practice differing in this respect from that of many 

 growers in the East. The trees are of a low habit of growth, so that 

 ordinarily it is not necessary to use a tower in order to spray the top 

 of the tree thoroughly. 



The average crew of two men and a team, or three men and team, 

 sprays about 5-| acres a day and applies from 1,100 to 1,500 gallons 

 of material in this time. There is no appreciable difference in time 

 between a 2-2 crew and a 3-2 crew, the extra man employed being 

 the driver, two leads of hose being used in each instance. Two rows 

 of trees are sprayed at a time, one lead of hose being used for each 

 row. 



The principal diseases which it is necessary to control in Hood 

 Eiver Valley are apple scab, apple powdery mildew, and anthrac- 

 nose. The principal insect pests are San Jose scale, leaf roller, aphis, 

 blister mite, and coddling moth. 



Where a spray rig is hired, the usual rate paid is $1 per hour for 

 man, rig, and team. Only the regular rate is here figured for the 

 labor, leaving 47^ cents per hour for the use of the rig itself. This 

 charge of 47^ cents is included in the fixed charges with deprecia- 

 tion and upkeep, in order to make the cost items comparable with 

 those on farms having their own spray outfits. 



